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Does anyone have any recommendations/protocols to follow for heel spurs? Here's a little background as to how my spur has acted up again:

About 5 months ago I got a very bad cold and went to my doctor's office. While I was there I asked the doctor to take a blood/urine sample because I wanted to check for diabetes (over the course of 4 years have gained 70 pounds from all the fertility medications I've taken and the stress of the process). Turns out my blood sugar levels are fine, but I had a urinary tract infection (didn't feel any symptoms so didn't know anything was wrong). So I went to my husband's urologist who prescribed me a 15 day course of Macrodantin. Took that, went back to doctor, had a urinalysis, and still had bacteria in my urine. So doctor then prescribed 15 days of Levaquin. Did that, urinalysis again, still bacteria. Did another 15 days of Levaquin. The process has been spread out over the last 4 months as it takes time to get urinalysis report. I should be getting the results any day now about whether the UTI is cleared up and if not I absolutely refuse to take any more antibiotics! I saw a protocol somewhere for good urinary tract health on the website here and shall follow that.

I go to an acupuncturist about every 2-3 weeks and she has helped in terms of alleviating the pain in my heel somewhat and she told me certain types of antibiotics can affect the tendons and that the antibiotics I was taking is probably what stirred up the spur.

I don't want to go back to a podiatrist because they will probably want to give me a shot of cortisone which I don't want to take as I'm going back to my fertility specialist in a couple of months and want my body to be clear of any toxins - one of the main reasons for starting this diet in the first place.

I have incorporated walking/jogging as an exercise routine and I stretch my foot muscles but most days now I am limping from the pain

Any suggestions to alleviate the pain would be appreciated. Thanks.

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

Lola thanks - I'm going to get the secretor test done. I'm in New York but will be visiting my sister in Virginia next month so will probably do it then as it seems a bit of a hassle to do from New York.

I was reading another thread about Melissa_J and pneumonia and someone mentioned tendonitis. Now I'm wondering if that is what I have as opposed to heel spur inflammation (or they could be same. Anyways thinking may go to the podiatrist to confirm that it is that as tendonitis can be helped by physical therapy and I think for insurance purposes need to go to the podiatrist in order to be able to see a physical therapist.

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

I have heel spurs as well, absolutely massive ones in both heels. Since following the BTD in 2004, they have given me much less trouble, to the point that now I forget they're there most of the time. When they do bother me, taking natural anti-inflammatories like bromelain and quercetin help quite a bit.

Hope you are able to get this problem resolved. Welcome to the board, I look forward to your posts

Hi Brighid45 and Rex. I ended up going to the podiatrist and turns out I don't have a heel spur but plantar facsitis. I caved and took a smaller dosage cortisone shot which my doc assures me will be out of my system in a week. I had been limping for over a month so I'm somewhat over my guilt of doing it. My doctor ordered orthotics (thank god my insurance covers ) for me and gave me instructions on some stretches to do. My foot feels so much better now and am happy because I want to go back on my treadmill tonight. I've come to realize that I must exercise at least 4-5 times a week to feel better and lose weight.

Rex - I'm in Queens, NY so yes we are neighbours per se. Don't really venture out of NY that often as I work long hours during the week, then come home and cook, so my free time is limited to mostly Sundays (do house chores on Saturdays) but maybe some time in the future we could visit. Always welcome making new friends.

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

How did the doctor test for the bacteria in your urine? A stick test or a culture of the urine? did you wipe with a something then pee in the cup?

Hi goro1, I am on Long Island right next door.

O's and joint inflammation.. have you looked at the arthritis book. You may find something specific for O's. Are you wheat free at this point? Deflect may help. Crocs may help too! Peppermint Twist has a whole thread about them.

MIFHI

"Do not try to satisfy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them." Anatole France

"Healthy people have the least overt symptoms from eating avoid foods." Dr. D'Adamo

UncommonO - I'll look into the frankincense and quercitin. My insurance covered orthotics (last insurance I had didn't and cost me $400!!) so my podiatrist ordered them and I've been wearing for about a week. They have been helping. And I also have stretch exercises to do as well - but haven't been as vigilant about them . I have noticed that my foot is definitely affected by the weather. There were some warm days here in NY and it didn't hurt at all. This morning was a tad colder and my foot hurt .

Andrea AWsec - I did pee in a cup but they didn't say anything about wiping before. I still haven't been back to my doctor - his work hours don't work too well with my schedule. I will try to get to him next week as I'll be away for the rest of this one. I have however been doing the urinary health protocol of bromelain, bearberry, horsetail and vitamin A. And I've also been taking probiotics. I have to ck my calendar - I think I have one more week to go taking these.

I am wheat free - with the exception of two times in the past 2 months and I paid dearly for them with horrible gas, diarrhea and stomach pain so I think I've learned my lesson. I will look into Deflect.

Crocs are just not my thing, but to each his own. I wear Dansko shoes and I think they are pretty good in support.

Diana - I have no idea how to move a thread or does an Administrator do so?

Thanks guys for the info/suggestions.

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

Did they send the specimen to a lab? or just do a dip stick test for bacteria in the office? As women we always have contaminated urine due to our body parts being so close together, so you would get a false positive. Wiping with something antibacterial (we use betadine in the hospital) first will assure that you get only the bacteria in the urine not the stray bacteria that is hanging around.

my heel hasn't been bothering me over the past few days. I am a runner, so it's an "issue" with me. Well, okay, so the pain has been completely, COMPLETELY gone. The only change that has been made in this time period is a lack of caffeine.I forgot the pain was not there...until I drank this diet Pepsi... I noticed the pain returning in my heel AND in my wrist, and in my knee as well!

''Just follow the book, don't look for magic fixes to get you off the hook. Do the work.'' Dr.D.'98DNA mt/Haplo H; Y-chrom/J2(M172);ESTJThe harder you are on yourself, the easier life will be on you!

Hi Brighid45 and Rex. I ended up going to the podiatrist and turns out I don't have a heel spur but plantar facsitis.

Five words: Crocs brand Cayman style shoes.*

Quoted Text

My doctor ordered orthotics (thank god my insurance covers ) for me and gave me instructions on some stretches to do. My foot feels so much better now and am happy because I want to go back on my treadmill tonight. I've come to realize that I must exercise at least 4-5 times a week to feel better and lose weight.

Wear the orthotics in shoes such as sneakers and shoes for the workplace and any other shoes you wear in which they fit properly, but for around the house, instead of going barefoot, try the Crocs. CROCS! Did I mention Crocs?

* edited to add: oooops, now that it is the day after I posted this, I see you had another post after your first one, in which you said Crocs aren't your thing. Sorry, I didn't see that before posting this. Anyway, they have helped many of us on this board with plantar fasciitis. They totally fixed my case of it. Miracle alert! Dat's why I love 'em.

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- me -

P.S. Speaking of Crocs, I was on the floor over this one: check out minute 1:36 in this video scene from "How I Met Your Mother"...you may wish to start from a bit ahead of 1:36 to get the full flavor...what the heck, view the whole thing, but have your ears pricked up at 1:36 in the going:

I had plantar fasciitis a couple of years ago. Definitely painful! I had been exercising with a videotape that included an exercise called "skis," jumping back and forth sideways with both feet together. Needless to say, I quit exercising with that videotape, and I have never gone back to it.

Eventually it worked itself out and just went away. But it took a long time, can't remember how long, but I'd say a couple of months. Here's one webpage with some "Lifestyle and Home Remedies," which may help, though most of them have been mentioned already on here. http://www.mayoclinic.com/heal.....nd%2Dhome%2DremediesIf the cold bothers your foot, wear thick socks and warm shoes! Sad to say, one of the best things you can do is just not use the foot as much as possible, give it a chance to heal.

I had plantar fasciitis too, years ago. Back before my energy came crashing totally down, I jogged regularly, and overdid it. Having a slightly shorter (3/8") right leg made it worse, too, because I would put more weight on my right foot when walking OR standing!

Andrea AWsec. Didn't scare me. (I think the only person that could potentially scare me is Lola - I'd just do whatever she told me to do). Just been visiting my sisters out in Northern Virginia and haven't had access to a computer until last night. It is so very nice and green (the foliage) here but it makes me realize how much a city person I am. I totally miss New York even though I don't live in Manhattan (I'm in Queens), I need the buzz!! I would go nuts living in suburbia.

I agree that lifestyle and diet can make a change. For the most part don't have caffeine other than my cup of green tea in the morning. But now I tried Yerba mate and am totally addicted to it. Must totally adhere to drinking it in moderation.

My foot hasn't been too bad in the past couple of days even though it got a little chilly here. I only wear sneakers and one pair of shoes at work which I put the orthotics in. When I'm at home I do wear socks or go barefoot (especially in the winter b/c my heating is in my floors and my feet feel nice and toasty).

Laughed at the youtube post but unfortunately pretty set in my mind about the crocs. But I appreciate the input, nonetheless.

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

Lola I only meant in context of the caffeine content of the tea. I really like the tea so I'm going to keep drinking it. It is also one of the few teas that I like without anything in it (sugar or honey etc.) so I like that as well.

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

Seems like some experts say it has mateine but not caffeine, others say it does have some caffeine. Yerba Mate: This Amazon herb contains theobromine, the mood-lifting xanthine also present in chocolate, helps to naturally enhance one's mood. Yerba mate is in extensive use in South American where it is used to enhance sustained energy, appetite control and mental clarity. Yerba Mate is also one of the best herbs at keeping tissue glycation at healthy levels.

Thanks Lola for all the info. Did not know about adding some cold water first. I will try that. I also got a lemon mate blend at a tea place and it is quite delicious. I'm definitely sticking with this tea now!

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

Oh c**p now I'm starting to get worried. The last thing I want to do is make it worse. You guys just might twist my arm on those crocs. But I'd use them just indoors in my house - I have hardware floors that I'd like to keep as scratch free as possible since we renovated only a couple of years ago. Okay so on the websites the crocs look like they only come in full sizes. I'm an 8 1/2. Do they run big or small, i.e. should I get a 9 or an 8?

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

Oh c**p now I'm starting to get worried. The last thing I want to do is make it worse. You guys just might twist my arm on those crocs. But I'd use them just indoors in my house - I have hardware floors that I'd like to keep as scratch free as possible since we renovated only a couple of years ago. Okay so on the websites the crocs look like they only come in full sizes. I'm an 8 1/2. Do they run big or small, i.e. should I get a 9 or an 8?

Hi, sorry I didn't see this post sooner. Things have been crazy at work. And I don't mean regular old crazy, I mean time-to-get-the-h*ll-outta-Dodge crazy...but I digress. As for the Crocs, yeah the thing about the classic Cayman style is that they do not come in half sizes. They run about a true 8 (I'm an 8, so I know whereof I speak *lol*), maybe a little on the big size if anything, but not too much. They are wide, though, which is wonderful in my case because my feet are wide, a C width to be exact, whereas a B is considered your standard, default width for women's shoes. Crocs Caymans are unisex. If you are an 8-1/2, I would suggest physically going to a shoe store and trying on the Crocs before buying, to see if an 8 or 9 is best for you. I don't know why they don't come in half sizes.

Anyway, I cannot say enough about how dramatically and totally these have helped my plantar fasciitis. I'm doing awesome now. I went from excruciating pain for at least several years, to awesomeness. I used to have to ice my feet after walking* or doing yard work, etc., but now I don't (although in the past few years I haven't really gone on any VERY long walks like I used to, so I'm not sure and probably my feet would hurt after a long hike, but I don't think anywhere near as much as they did in the past, pre-Croc...for longer walks I try to wear sneaks with the custom insoles the podiatrist did for me (well, the right one is custom, the left one is just there so that the feet are about the same height in the shoe).

Dude, go try on some Crocs, Cayman style. I'm thinking the size 8 would do you but definitely try them on, you might need a niner.

* edited to add: I never have to ice 'em (my feet) now, whereas I used to always be putting ice packs on them, not just after long walks or yard work, as they were basically the only thing to alleviate the excruciating pain. It's a miracle.

"If you are on one of Dr. D's diets and it isn't joyful, you aren't doing it right."- me -

I wish I could wear my crocs at work but they would be a bit hazardous on a construction site. My planter fascia came back for a couple of months but it seems to be fading now. Fortunately I found some work boots with a shock absorbing block in the heel.

Thanks PT for the info. I think I know a place that sells them so I will try to check it out this weekend. I'm so glad you said they come in wide. I have wide feet as well and it is such a pain in the b**t to find comfortable shoes!

gulfcoastguy - may I ask what brand are the work boots you got? My husband is a plumber and is always looking for comfortable boots for the job. His feet are very flat and wide and I feel like he buys new shoes (work ones) every six months b/c they wear out or become uncomfortable.

There is no such thing as "I cannot" only "I do not want to" - Greek Proverb

Goro1, they are Timberlands but they are from the work boot section of Sports Academy(local store)not the regular shoe section. I just went and looked at them. They are the Timberland Pro series and don't have steel toes(in case that is a job requirement). They cost a bit more than $100 in summer of 07. I don't have flat feet though.